You ought to be out raising hell. This is the fighting age. Put on your fighting clothes.
-Mother Jones
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Tuesday October 14, 2014
Part I of a Summary of the Colorado Coalfield Strike of 1903-04 by Emma F. Langdon
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Many books have been written about the Colorado Coalfield Strike of 1913-14, but there is little written about the strike of 1903-04, and what is written is scattered around in various books. Therefore, as the strike comes to it's sad ending in October of 1904, this seems like a good time to present the summary of the strike that was written by Emma F. Langdon for inclusion in her book on the Cripple Creek Strike. We will begin today with part 1 of Mrs. Langdon's account of the strike and conclude with part 2 in tomorrow's Hellraisers.
From The Cripple Creek Strike: The Coal Strike Begins
THE COAL MINERS ON STRIKE.
From November 8 [1903], through the entire month, the strike of the coal miners in the southern and northern fields of Colorado held the attention of the public. November 9 found the tie up of the coal mines almost complete. At Trinidad, when the whistle blew, there were but an inconsiderable few who responded, and the tie-up in Las Animas county was declared complete.
November 11 found ninety per cent of the miners out on strike and that per cent had been previously organized and were strictly union.
Thousands of coal miners were out before the governor realized what had taken place. Arrangements were made at once by the officers directing the strike to send many of the men away—over 1,000 departing at one time—500 of whom were sent to Thurber, Texas, and many others to the Iowa coal fields. At both places the conditions, wages and hours of work were vastly superior to those of the southern fields.
A coal strike with such capitalists as the men that control the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company and the Victor Coal Company on one side and the United Mine Workers, led by John Mitchell, on the other, is one, the effect of which can hardly be estimated.
A settlement of the difficulties in the northern fields was soon made, whereby the miners received all and more than they asked for, and work was renewed under far more favorable conditions.
''Mother Jones'' played a very commendable part in the labor troubles in the coal districts and needs no introduction to the laboring classes by the writer.
Governor Peabody
Governor Peabody made a statement November 11, in an interview on the coal strike, which read in part, as follows:
I hold that every man has a right to work, whether he is union or non-union. When a man is ready and willing to work and is interfered with, I will furnish him the protection that he, as an American citizen, is entitled to.
Up to the present time I have received no request for troops. Regardless of the statements that have been made, I have not been approached by the Victor Fuel company, nor by the Denver Tramway company for troops to go to Leyden Junction, or elsewhere. I wish my attitude to be understood. I have no objection to unions. Every man has a right to join unions if he wants to, the same as he may join a church, a lodge or any organization, civil or religious, so long as union members do not interfere individually or collectively with the action of other men, they are all right. I have always maintained that when a man wants to work that that is his privilege, and no one shall stop him. On the other hand, a man cannot be compelled to work unless he wants to. There must be no coercion either way.
When I receive assurance that a body of men want to work, union or non-union, I shall extend to them that protection that is in my power. This is my position in this matter.
Will the reader take note that Governor Peabody says the principles that caused him to take the actions he has are that law and order shall be maintained in this state and that men shall have the right to work or not as they see fit.
Will Governor Peabody be honest and tell the public why he has allowed the militia, with his connivance, to openly violate the laws of this state, by arresting innocent men without warrant or due process of law, and against whom no charges have been brought...
[photograph added]
From The Cripple Creek Strike: The Separate Settlement
THE COAL STRIKE.
November 9, 1903, the strike of the coal miners of District No. 15, United Mine Workers of America, comprising the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, was called and was not declared off until early in 1905.
Officers and members of the organization for months before the crisis used every means to avert the anticipated trouble. But all operators except those of the northern district of Colorado refused the union representatives a hearing.
As early as August, 1903, efforts were made by committees of the organization to have the differences adjusted and grievances complained of considered. The committees went so far as to invoke the aid of the governor and labor commissioner, both of whom responded, and, September 8, sent the operators and superintendents of mines an official communication requesting a conference. In response to the invitation, many of the operators from the northern district were in attendance and-waited for representatives from the other districts of Colorado, but as they did not attend, the meeting adjourned to meet one week later—hoping that influence could be brought to bear to induce the managers of the larger southern companies to send representatives to the conference.
The second meeting had in attendance a very conservative committee from the miner's unions of the north and the representatives from the principal mines of that district, in addition to the governor and labor commissioner. After much discussion, the conference adjourned without result. The governor and commissioner promising to do all in their power to bring about a meeting of the operators of the southern fields and labor committee; but were unable to do so.
Later, however, a representative of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company and the Victor Fuel Company, with legal representatives, with labor commissioner held a meeting in the governor's office. At this meeting it was asserted that the companies had nothing to arbitrate and would not treat with a committee from the United Mine Workers, neither would the companies recognize the organization in any manner.
John Mitchell
T L Lewis
William B Wilson
Affairs, practically, were the same as stated when the executive board of the United Mine Workers of America held a meeting in Indianapolis, Ind. The matter was brought before the board. The deputy labor commissioner appeared before the board with a written report and endeavored to show the members that a strike at that time was inauspicious and would be erroneous. The result of this was that the matter was referred to the executive officers of the organization, Messrs. Mitchell, Lewis and Wilson.
Before the above meeting there had been a convention of delegates, elected by the locals of District 15, held in Pueblo, September 23-26, at which sentiment was strongly in favor of calling a strike in the southern fields. The delegates believed that a strike would be the only way in which the miners could be reached for organization, and that four-fifths of the miners would respond to a call for a strike that had the endorsement of the National board.
The substance of the demand of the miners was as follows:
An increased scale of wages of 20 per cent, as paid by other districts.
An eight-hour day.
No discrimination against members of the United Mine Workers of America.
A bi-monthly pay day.
A fair system of weights.
April 27, Unions of Superior, Erie, Marshall, Louisville and Lafayette, of the northern fields, made a demand for the eight hour day. The demand was not granted at that time but the operators informed the unions that other operators were to be consulted and their refusal was not to be taken as final.
Those who opposed the strike and believed that it would prove a failure appealed to President John Mitchell to come to Colorado to use his influence to prevent the strike. It was said that after the adjournment of the National Civic Federation convention, which he was attending, business of importance kept him from visiting Colorado for some time. "Mother" Jones and other representatives came to the state and made efforts to bring about a settlement if possible, but regardless of all efforts, it seemed utterly impossible to gain recognition or have a conference.
At the time the strike was called Wm. Howells was president of District 15, and was notified that the national executive board had carefully considered the advisability of calling the strike and had decided upon the only alternative—to call the strike. The official communication pledged the national organization to render all possible assistance and was signed by President Mitchell, Vice President T. L. Lewis, and Secretary-Treasurer W. B. Wilson.
The call affected about 22,000 persons in the district. I may mention here that the entire membership of District 15, voted to strike or not to strike and the result of the vote was practically unanimously in favor of calling the strike.
October 31, 1903, the miners of the northern fields requested a conference with the operators to take place at Lafayette, November 3. Both sides were well represented. At this meeting a scale of prices was presented for all classes of work performed about the mines, which was discussed. While not agreed to, it was specifically understood, that the question of an eight-hour day was to be dropped for awhile without definite agreement. The meeting adjourned to meet November 5, at the office of the Northern Coal and Coke Company, in Denver, the operators to pay expense of the delegation to that city and a large attendance was guaranteed.
In accordance with the foregoing the meeting was held and the operators were well represented. Attorney Blood, their representative, explained the position of the operators in reference to a request that had been made by the union at Lafayette. Mr. Struby read a reply of the operators, explaining same and attempted to show why it was impossible for the operators to grant the demand made by the miners. The meeting adjourned. When the committee reconvened much discussion was indulged in but nothing definite was arrived at.
November 6, the committee for the unions decided to re-submit their proposition in reference to price per ton to be paid according to thickness of vein, waiving the twenty per cent advance asked for on yardage and machine work. The union, however, still insisted on the eight-hour day and a check-off system.
The operators replied that they would not grant an eight-hour day at that time and that when the state went on an eight-hour basis, they would grant the same. They claimed that it would mean financial ruin to them and the shutting-down of their properties.
Many meetings were held and finally, the operators submitted a written proposition to the union committee which included an eight-hour day, the eight hours to commence and end at the time best suited to the operators, the following was the section in agreement referring to hours:
That except as hereinbefore qualified the present scale at all of the mines in the entire Northern lignite field, including the Erie district shall remain and continue as it now is.
That while the eight-hour day is in effect, as hereinbefore stated, there shall be no reduction in pay of the day men by reason of the reduction in hours, and that they shall receive the same pay for eight hours' work that they have heretofore received for ten hours' work.
The eight-hour day above referred to, so far as the Northern Coal and Coke Company is concerned, shall, for the present, consist of the following hours: From 7:00 o'clock a. m. to 11:00 o'clock a. m., when work shall cease thirty minutes for lunch, and from 11:30 o'clock a. m. to 3:30 o'clock p. m.
If. however, said company shall find the hour of commencement of work is too early for the successful operation of its mines, then the said eight-hour day shall, if mutually agreed upon after conference, commence at 7:30 o'clock a. m. and continue until 11:30 o'clock a. m., at which time work shall cease half an hour for lunch, and then from 12:00 m. until 4:00 o'clock p. m.
One of the " brilliant and forcible orators"
who urged the Northern miners
not to abandon their Southern brothers.
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Many meetings of the miners and operators were held in November but no definite action was taken until November 21, when the miners voted 228 to 165 not to return to work. The presence of brilliant and forcible orators, who used their gift of eloquence against returning to work were given the credit for the foregoing vote. The result of the vote was surprising to the more conservative members as the action was taken after receiving a written request from John Mitchell, national president, to accept the terms offered by the operators and return to work. The conservative members claimed they had been granted all and more than they had asked. Members in favor of returning to work felt that another meeting would bring results more satisfactory and efforts were made to arrange another meeting with the end that November 28, the miners met and again cast their ballot, this time the result being 483 to 130 in favor of going to work. This vote put to work 1,270 men, who produced 7,000 tons of coal a day, which helped to avert the threatened coal famine.
This settled the strike in the Northern fields. So far as I am informed, the eight-hour day has been observed; the scale as adopted paid. Arbitration was the means by which the Northern strike was settled and had the operators in the Southern fields shown the same disposition to confer with their workmen, the strike could have been averted and the state saved millions in loss of production, not to mention the misery and suffering that resulted.
[photographs added]
SOURCE
The Cripple Creek Strike
A History of Industrial Wars in Colorado, 1903-4-5
-by Emma F Langdon
"Being a Complete and Concise
History of the Efforts of
Organized Capital
to Crush Unionism"
The Great Western Publishing Co.
Denver,Colorado, 1905.
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
IMAGES
Emma F Langdon
& "The Cripple Creek Strike"
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
Governor Peabody
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
John Mitchell & T L Lewis
http://www.umwa.org/...
William B Wilson
http://www.blossburg.org/
Mother Jones
http://www.rebelgraphics.org/...
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Solidarity Forever - Tom Morello: The Nightwatchman
We can break their haughty power
Gain our freedom when we learn
That the Union makes us strong.
-Ralph Chaplin
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